Side Travel Guides
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Side is an ancient harbour town on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, 75 km east of Antalya. Founded by Greek colonists in the 7th century BCE and later a major Roman port, it sits on a small peninsula where the Manavgat River meets the sea. The old town occupies the original Greco-Roman city, with cobbled streets running between an intact Roman theatre, the seafront Temple of Apollo, and ruined city walls.
Modern Side blends ancient sites with all-inclusive resort hotels stretching east toward Manavgat and west toward Kumkoy. The town centre is mostly pedestrianised inside the Roman gate. Antalya Airport (AYT) is the main entry point, 65 km away, with private transfers and the HAVAS bus serving the resort area.
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May, June, September, and early October are ideal. Daytime temperatures hover around 26-30°C with the Mediterranean at 23-26°C, perfect for beaches and ruins exploration. July and August are very hot and crowded with European package tourists.
The most efficient option is a private transfer or shared shuttle. Antalya Airport (AYT) is 65 km from Side, taking 60-75 minutes. Shared shuttles run EUR 12-18 per person; private transfers cost EUR 50-70 for the car. The HAVAS bus to Manavgat with onward dolmus is the cheapest at around EUR 8 total.
Three to five days suits most visitors. One day for the old town and Roman ruins, one for Manavgat Falls and the river boat trip, one for Aspendos and Perge ruins, and beach days in between. Add a day for Koprulu Canyon rafting or a longer Antalya excursion.
Walk in the old town and use dolmus minibuses for nearby trips. Side's old town is fully pedestrianised inside the ancient gate. Dolmuses connect to Manavgat (TRY 30, 15 min) where you can switch for buses to Antalya and Alanya. Day tours cover the harder-to-reach sites like Aspendos and Koprulu Canyon.
The Roman gates, agora ruins, and most of the old town's archaeological remains are free and accessible 24/7. The Side Ancient Theatre and the Side Museum charge admission (TRY 200-400 each in 2026). The seaside Temple of Apollo is free and best at sunset.
Yes, on Trip1 you can book hotels across Side and pay with over 50 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC. Trip1 covers 3 million+ hotels in 190+ countries, making it easy to find and book accommodation with crypto.